Tool bar construction

ABSTRACT

A tool bar unit comprising three parallel tool bars and a series of triangular spacers positioning the bars at approximately equal distances in a triangular pattern whereby two of the tool bars are in the same horizontal plane and act as the mounting tool bars, while the third tool bar is located centrally between the first two tool bars and in a horizontal plane vertically thereabove so as to cooperate with the triangular spacers and define stiffening means. The spacers each consists of a pair of solid plates sandwiching edge reinforcing rods therebetween, the opposed ends of the rods being threaded and orientated so as to define tool bar receiving and clamp mounting members.

United States Patent Norrell et a].

154] TOOL BAR CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventors: Arvin L. Norrell, P.O. BoxNorth Avenue North; Arvin W. Norrell, PO. Box 135 925 Avenue 0, both ofSunray, Tex. 79086 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, I969 [21] Appl. No.: 856,642

[52] US. Cl ..l72/656, 172/689,?76 [51 Int. Cl. ..AOIb 23/04 [58] Fieldof Search ..172/451, 634, 641, 645, 620, 172/656, 689, 694, 697, 698,654, 776; 52/637, 648, 654

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,312,290 4/1967 Abbott..172/451 767,533 8/1904 Warner ..52/654 1,174,501 3/1916 Hughes et a1...52/654 2,409,060 10/1946 Moore ..52/648 2,530,565 11/1950 Briscoe..172/451 2,784,658 3/1957 Hodges ..172/451 2,806,560 9/1957 Cox..52/637 3,001,590 9/1961 Tsuchiya ..172/451 1 Oct. 17, 1972 3,330,3647/1967 Orthman ..I72/451 3,403,737 10/1968 Byrd ..172/451 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,263,311 12/1961 France ..52/637 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-C. W. I-IanorAnorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey 8. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A toolbar unit comprising three parallel tool bars and a series of triangularspacers positioning the bars at approximately equal distances in atriangular pattern whereby two of the tool bars are in the samehorizontal plane and act as the mounting tool bars, while the third toolbar is located centrally between the first two tool bars and in ahorizontal plane vertically thereabove so as to cooperate with thetriangular spacers and define stiffening means. The spacers eachconsists of a pair of solid plates sandwiching edge reinforcing rodstherebetween, the opposed ends of the rods being threaded and orientatedso as to define tool bar receiving and clamp mounting members.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucI 17 m2 3.698.489

sum 1 0F 2 Arvin L. Narre/l Arvin n. Narrel/ IN VEN T0 R5 PATENTEUIJBI17 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 Arw'n L. Norrel/ Arvin W Norrel/ 1x VEN TORS and TOOLBAR CONSTRUCTION The invention herein is generally directed to tool barconstruction, and more particularly relates to a tool bar unitcomprising three tool bars, and a unique combina' tion spacer and bracefor rigidly interconnecting the three tool bars.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide both a uniquearrangement of tool bars in a multibar unit, and a unique spacer fororientating and interlocking the multiple bars.

A problem frequently arising in connection with implement mounting toolbars is the tendency for such bars to sag or sway, especially when barsof a substantial length are utilized. As will be appreciated, because ofthis tendency, tool bar lengths are limited, or alternatively requireelaborate bracing construction in the absence of which an irregularworking of the ground by the mounted tools will result. Thus, it is asignificant object of the instant invention to provide a tool bar unitwherein any tendency for the unit, and particularly the two working toolbars associated therewith, to sway, sag or become misaligned issubstantially eliminated.

Further, an important object of the instant invention resides in theprovision of a three bar unit which incorporates highly unique spacerscapable of rigidly interconnecting the three bars into a stable unit,the three bars being arranged so as to define a unit which incross-section assumes the general shape of an equilateral triangle.

in addition, it is a significant object of the instant invention toprovide a tool bar spacer which is in effect a single unit engageablewith and between the three bars which in turn are fixedly clampedthereto utilizing three notched tool bar clamps.

Although multi-bar units have heretofore been devised, the known units,while providing additional bars for the mounting of a variety of tools,do not to any great degree eliminate undesirable sagging or lateralswaying such as is achieved by the instant invention through both aunique arrangement ofthe multiple tool bars and a uniquely constructedseries of spacers. Basically, the objects of the instant invention areachieved through the provision of a tool bar unit wherein three toolbars are arranged so as to, in cross-section, define approximately anequilateral triangle. The spacers utilized each consists of a pair oftriangular plates, the edges of which are reinforced by elongated rodssandwiched between the plates. These rods in turn have the outer endsthereof outturned so as to define three mounting ends within which thetool bars are received and subsequently clamped by appropriate tool barclamps secured to the outer ends of the rods over the received bars.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa tool bar unit constructed in accordance withthe instant invention and mounted in operative position on a farmtractor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the tool bar construction;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the tool bar spacers;and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passingalong line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 isused to designate the tool bar construction or tool bar unit of theinstant invention. This unit It) incorporates three toolbars l2, l4 and16, the bars 12 and 14 constituting the forward and rear working toolbars, while the bar 16 is utilized as a stiffener. As will be appreciatefrom FIG. 2, the working bars 12 and 14 are in a common horizontalplane, while the bar 16 is located centrally therebetween and verticallythereabove, the three bars being spaced approximately equal distancesfrom each other in a generally equilateral triangular pattern.

The tool bar unit 10 also includes a series of highly unique bar spacers18. Each spacer 18, noting FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, includes a pairof laterally spaced parallel triangular plates 20, the corners of whichhave right angular notches 22 defined therein. Each aligned pair ofnotches 22 in turn receives a relatively short outwardly facing anglebar 24 which is welded to the two plates 20 and defines a bar seat forone of the tool bars. As will be noted, these angle bar seats 24 projectlaterally beyond both plates 20 so as to provide a seat slightly widerthan the width of the spaced plates 20.

The two solid plates 20 of each spacer 18 have the edges thereofreinforced by elongated rods 26 sandwiched therebetween and weldedthereto, the opposite end portions of the rods 26 being externallythreaded so as to in effect define mounting bolts. The three cornersofeach generally equilateral triangularly shaped spacer 18 have thecorresponding rod end portions projecting outwardly parallel to eachother and to the opposite sides of the corresponding angle bar seats 24.Each tool bar, l2, 14 or 16, is received between a pair of rod ends andseated on the corresponding angle bar 24 against which it is firmlyclamped by an appropriate notched clamping block 28 received'over thethreaded outer ends of the pair of rod end portions and locked thereonby a pair of locknuts 30. The provision of a series of such spacers 18along the length of the three bars 12, 14 and 16 result in a highlyrigid integral unit incorporating two horizontally coplanar toolmounting bars 12 and 14 and a single centrally located elevatedstiffener bar 16. The central location of the stiffener bar 16 and thegenerally equilateral arrangement of the three bars is consideredparticularly significant in precluding substantially any tendency forthe unit to sway or sag. Likewise, the use of single solid spacersinterconnecting all three bars greatly contributes to both the rigidityof the unit and the ease of assembly thereof, the interconnected bars,and in particular the two work tool mounting bars 12 and 14, beingproperly positioned and exposed for easy access thereto in both mountingthe unit on a towing vehicle, such as the illustrated tractor, and amounting of the working tools.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique tool barspacer has been defined whereby a novel tool bar unit, consisting ofthree approximately equally spaced tool bars, can be constructed. Thespacer itself is generally in the shape of an equilateral triangle andconsists of a pair of solid laterally spaced parallel plates edgereinforced by elongated rods. The

rods have the opposite end portions thereof outwardly directed at thecorresponding corners of the plates with two such rod ends being locatedin laterally spaced parallel relation to each other at each corner forthe accommodation of a tool bar therebetween. The plate cornersthemselves are notched and mount a right angular seating member for theseated reception of the corresponding bar which is to be clampedthereagainst by an appropriate bar clamp mounted over the projectingends of the associated pair of rods. The triangular spacer 18 isorientated with a horizontal base edge and two upwardly converging sideedges. The rod which follows the base edge has coaxial end portions andthe two rods which parallel the upwardly inclined edges have lower edgeportions outwardly angled so as to extend horizontally and upper edgeportions upwardly angled so as to extend vertically. The tool bar unitconstructed utilizing the spacers is highly rigid and resistant to bothundesirable swaying and sagging, a problem heretofore constituting amajor source of difficulty in providing tool bars of any substantiallength.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A tool bar unit comprising three elongated tool bars, said bars beingin laterally spaced parallel relation to each other, two of said barsbeing orientated in a common horizontal plane, the third of said barsbeing located centrally between the two bars and vertically above thehorizontal plane so as to define a triangular orientation for the bars,and spacer means fixing the bars relative to each other, said spacermeans comprising a plurality ofspacers, each spacer comprising anintegral triangular unit including three bar mounting portions, each barmounting portion comprising a transversely orientated bar seat, and abar clamp releasably mountable over each bar seat and a seat receivedbar, each bar mounting portion being defined at a corner of thetriangular spacer unit, each spacer being formed of a pair of laterallyspaced parallel plates, and means rigidly interconnecting said plates,the means interconnecting the spacer plates comprising edge reinforcingrods sandwiched between said plates along the edges thereof, said rodseach having outwardly directed end portions defining a pair of paralleloutwardly directed rod end portions at each spacer bar mounting portionfor reception of a bar therebetween and the associated bar clampthereon.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein each transverse bar seat includesan angle member fixed to and extending across said plates.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein each spacer is substantiallyequilateral in shape.

4. For use in combining three elongated parallel tool bars into a singlemultiple tool bar unit, a tool bar spacer, said spacer being triangularin configuration and including three bar mounting portions, each barmounting portion comprising a transverse bar seat for the seaJedreception of a tool bar therein, a r id a soclate releasa le clampmounting means wit eac seat for the retention of a bar therein, each barmounting portion being defined at a corner of the triangular spacer,each spacer comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel plates, andmeans rigidly interconnecting said plates, the means interconnecting thespacer plates comprising edge reinforcing rods sandwiched between saidplates along the edges thereof, said rods each having outwardly directedend portions defining a pair of parallel outwardly directed rod endportions at each spacer bar mounting portion for reception of a bartherebetween and the associated bar clamp thereon.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein each transverse bar seat isdefined by an angle member fixed to and extending across said platesbetween a pair of adjoining rod end portions.

I l i l

1. A tool bar unit comprising three elongated tool bars, said bars beingin laterally spaced parallel relation to each other, two of said barsbeing orientated in a common horizontal plane, the third of said barsbeing located centrally between the two bars and vertically above thehorizontal plane so as to define a triangular orientation for the bars,and spacer means fixing the bars relative to each other, said spacermeans comprising a plurality of spacers, each spacer comprising anintegral triangular unit including three bar mounting portions, each barmounting portion comprising a transversely orientated bar seat, and abar clamp releasably mountable over each bar seat and a seat receivedbar, each bar mounting portion being defined at a corner of thetriangular spacer unit, each spacer being formed of a pair of laterallyspaced parallel plates, and means rigidly interconnecting said plates,the means interconnecting the spacer plates comprising edge reinforcingrods sandwiched between said plates along the edges thereof, said rodseach having outwardly directed end portions defining a pair of paralleloutwardly directed rod end portions at each spacer bar mounting portionfor reception of a bar therebetween and the associated bar clampthereon.
 2. The construction of claim 1 wherein each transverse bar seatincludes an angle member fixed to and extending across said plates. 3.The construction of claim 2 wherein each spacer is substantiallyequilateral in shape.
 4. For use in combining three elongated paralleltool bars into a single multiple tool bar unit, a tool bar spacer, saidspacer being triangular in configuration and including three barmounting portions, each bar mounting portion comprising a transverse barseat for the seated reception of a tool bar therein, and associatedreleasable clamp mounting means with each seat for the retention of abar therein, each bar mounting portion being defined at a corner of thetriangular spacer, each spacer comprising a pair of laterally spacedparallel plates, and means rigidly interconnecting said plates, themeans interconnecting the spacer plates comprising edge reInforcing rodssandwiched between said plates along the edges thereof, said rods eachhaving outwardly directed end portions defining a pair of paralleloutwardly directed rod end portions at each spacer bar mounting portionfor reception of a bar therebetween and the associated bar clampthereon.
 5. The construction of claim 4 wherein each transverse bar seatis defined by an angle member fixed to and extending across said platesbetween a pair of adjoining rod end portions.